502 
MERGE TO GYRENE. 
is alluded to by Shaw and Bruce is not, as we have stated, on 
any part of the coast, but lying at a distance of several days from it, 
that is to say, south of Bengazi ; and Bruce translates the name which 
has been given to it differently, calling it the Fountain and not the 
Head of Poison, as Eas Sem is commonly interpreted ; probably from 
the indifferent quality of the water which he found there in a very 
disagreeable spring impregnated M'ith alum. We are not prepared 
to reconcile the different positions assigned to the fountain or the 
promontory in question ; but have chiefly adverted to it on account 
of the fictions which have been circulated with respect to its alleged 
petrifactions. It appears, as reported by a Tripoline Ambassador 
resident in London about an hundred years ago, on the authority of 
a friend of his, a person of great veracity, and of a thousand other 
people besides— all, no doubt, of equal respectability— that “ a large 
town was to be seen at Eas Sem, of a circular figure, w hich had seve- 
ral streets, shops, and a magnificent castle belonging to it.” “ Olive 
and palm trees were found there, among others, turned into a bluish 
or cinder coloured stone, and men were conspicuous in different 
attitudes, some of them exercising their trades and occupations, 
others holding stuffs, bread, &c., in their hands. Women at the same 
time were observed giving suck to their children, or busy at the 
kneading trough or other occupations. A man was to be seen on 
entering the castle lying upon a magnificent bed of stone, and guards 
were still visible standing at the doors armed with their pikes and 
spears. Animals of different sorts (nay, the very dogs, cats and mice) 
were observed by some persons converted into stone, and all of the 
